Wind deflector for automobile rear seats



Sept. 2, 1952 F. H. HELSLEY WIND DEFLECTOR FOR AUTOMOBILE REAR SEATS Filed April 2. 194s n n JNVENToR. Haq/wr bf HEL .5 En

Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED WIND DEFIiECTOR. FOR AUTOMOBILE REAR SEATS Frank H. Helsley, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 2, 1948, Serial No. 18,515V

This invention relates to a wind deflector for" use on automobiles.

In the usual driving of automobiles of the sedan type the window in the front door adjacent the drivers seat is usually left open not only for ventilation purposes but to facilitate the giving of arm signals. When this window is left open drafts may enter therethrough that are objectionable to rear seat passengers. An object of the present invention is to provide a wind deector that will deflect such drafts outwardly. thus avoiding the objection made thereby to rear seat passengers.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a wind deflector that can be easily applied to or between the upholstered facing elements that are conventionally present on the interior of the door jamb for the front and rear doors of sedan type automobiles without marring or requiring the alteration of such elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wind deflector of this character which can be easily, quickly and economically manufactured and readily installed and which is adjustable to any desired position to prevent the objectionable incoming drafts. y

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detaileddescription and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial view in perspective of the interior of a sedan type automobile illustrating the deflector embodying the present invention as having been installed therein;l

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 2-2 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 3-3 upon Fig. 2 in the direction indicated; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the deiiector.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, I indicates the left front door of a sedan type automobile, the window of which during ordinary weather is left open for ventilation and arm signaling purposes. II indicates the rear door on the same side of the automobile. These doors in the conventional construction are closable against a door jamb I2 disposed therebetween. In the usual construction of this door jamb wooden or fiber elements I3 and I4 are recessed in the inner side of the door jamb and are retained in position therein in any suitable manner such as "by A 5 claims. (o1. 98-2) fastening elements I5. The interior of the doo jamb' is usually upholstered by means of rolls in the form of cords I6 which are covered over or enclosed within fabrics I'I. The edges of the enclosing fabrics extend inwardly so as to be positioned against the inner faces of the strips I3 and I4, respectively. A facing element I8 is usually covered by fabric I9 and bridges the. space between the rolls at the sides of the door jamb.` Tacks are similar fastening elements, indicated at 2li, are positioned with their heads between'the facing element I8 and the inturnededges of the covering fabric I9 and are drivenr into the strips I3 and I4. In this manner the heads of the fastening elements are effectively concealed. These fastening elements in theconventional automobile of the sedan type are suitabls7 spaced apart, the spacing frequently being in the neighborhood of from 1%" to 2"al-l though the exact spacing is immaterial in sol far as the present invention is concerned.V v The wind deflector embodying the present invention consists of a suitable section 2I of trans-f parent material, preferably a transparent, synthetic resin plastic ,such as, for example, Lucite.

This section has friction hinges secured thereto adjacent its top and bottom, such hinges being generally indicated at 22 and 23. Each hinge consists of one leaf 244 that is secured to the transparent section 2| such as by a rivet U25. This section has integral therewith a knuckle 2t that receives one end of a hinge pin 21. The other leaf of each hinge consists of a knuckle 28 through which the hinge pin 21 extends and an angular leaf portion. The portion 29 of the leaf which is most adjacent the hinge pin is approximately equal in length to the diameter of the roll I6 and the laterally bent portion 30 extends laterally only a relatively short distance such as, for example 1/2 to The height of the leaf is less than the spacing between the fastening elements 2B.

With the wind deflector as thus constructed it is possible to insert the laterally extending portion 3i) of each hinge between the roll I6 and the edge of the facing element I8 and position the two free or unattached leaves of the hinges between the facing element I3 and the inwardly extending edges of the fabric I1. In the usual situation the facing element IB is held sufciently snugly yagainst the strips I3 and I4 so as to frictionally hold the lateral portions 30 on the leaves in the position in which they are inserted. However if, due to vibration or any ylooseness existing, the wind deflector should possibly slide down, it can only do so to the extent of the next subjacent fastening element 20 that is encountered.

The two knuckles 26 and 28 are sumciently tight so as to frictionally grip on the hinge pin 21 and while the deector may be forcibly swung on the hinge pins as is indicated by a comparison of the full line position shown in Fig. 2 with the dotted line position shown therein, the defiector will normally` remainfin any adljustedposition by, reason or* the frictional engagement ofthe knuckles 26 with the hinge pin. In this manner the deector can be adjusted to any desired posi-1 tion to deect wind entering through. the openl Window in the front door. If not desired it can be swung into the position shown in dotted lines on Fig. 2 without involving its removal from. the=- door j amb.

From the above described construction it willv be appreciated that an improved wind deectoi: is provided which is applicable to the door jambs on sedan: type automobiles. Y It .may-fbefeasily andA quickly-:installed by merelyfinsertinggthe angular leai'cof. each hinge between the roll 'andy the facing; eler'nentnorr the door jamb.H This does not involve ai: marring or anyz alteration 1 of; ther, upholstery within ,the automobile sothat if at anyytimez-it is desiremtmremovethe Windfdeector entirely; the lniolstery will retain: its: initial.: condition. v and appearance:

Various'. changesfr may 'be' madein'. the` details oteonstruction; Without departing from the spirit andiscnpeaof thefinventiorras 'denedz by the'ap-i pended claims;

1f; .Init combina-tionlwithr, ai: vehicle rbodyvhaving, awdbor'jambg'. andi-rolls-extendingsverticallyfalong the; inside: edges Lof' the jambi and' av facingr bei tween.theY rolls,v awindidenector; andi meansfse curedlto thefde'ector inserted'between aroll'andi the facing` and-1 extending' behind' the facing.- for mounting-1 the-deflector onthe doordamb;

2l In:fconibir-iation. with a 4vehicle body having afd'oor jamb, and'rollsextending vertically-'along the inside edges Yof thefjam-b and afacinglbetween thef-rollsgl ai win-d d'eector, hinges secured-:tothe detlectorf adjacent the' topand bottomt thereof, each 'hinge having an angular leaf which is angu lar-in horizontal crosssection insertedf between a roll andthe facing'andwhich extendsbehind the facingy for mountingthe delector onV the door tambiv 3. A wind deiiector for a sedan-type automobile having a roll and a facing on the interior of a jamb comprising a section of transparent ma.- terial having friction hinges secured thereto adjacent the top and bottom thereof, each hinge having a hinge pin and a leaf which is angular in horizontal cross section providing a portion adjacent the hinge pin and a portion remote therefomadapted to be'inserted between-the roll and the facing element onf the interior of the .lamb of a sedan-type automobile, that portion mnst adjacent the hinge pin being approximately equalinlengthtothe diameter of the roll.

4:;,A`wind` deector for a sedan-type automobile having a roll and a facing on the interior oi' a. jamb:` comprising a section of transparent materialhaving hinges secured thereto, one leaf of eachhinge being angular in horizontal cross section;so: ass to be insertable behind the facing element on the interior of the door jamb of a. sedantype. automobile. with the.; portion;V of each.; leaf most adjacent the hinge pin occupyingiaipositioni adjacent the. rolL andf theother portionof each leaf. occupying-,- a-YV position, behind; the,- facing', element..

5fr Ina vehicley bodyhaving-'af` doorjamb and rolls extending verticallyalong inside:V edges v of' the-t Aj amb ,and Vaf facing -between the:v rolls, afwind: deecton having hinges secured*v theretw` said h-ingesfhaving leaves I whichsarefangnlarfin hori zontal cross section:insertedl betweenfairollandi the' facing and, extending laterallyv behind: the:r facing thus mounting ythe deectorz onnV the :door

lamb;

The' foll'mlvi'n'gfY refrencesf L are of record 1 inf the le ofL this 1 patent:L

UNITED STATES PATENTS. Num-berl Name; Dateiy 80534831 Nemen' Nov.- 28,l 1905i: 1,849,171 6: De Fries: Mar.Y 1'5,` 1932 1,968,948f' Lang;l Augrf, 1934: FOREIGN PATENTST NumberA Country Date 694,957 France Mayf'3, 1930V 

